IST Alumni Society President's Message

It’s been a tough few months for Penn State. It’s still surreal to see images of our beloved Old State broadcast over CNN and linked to such a tragic story. However, I firmly believe in the strength of our alumni base to see us through this trying time. It’s through grassroots efforts from our alumni that we can begin to bring Penn State back into the positive light and I hope, more than ever, that our events bring value to the community. As an example, IST students and alumni partnered with Penn State Athletics to fundraise inside of the stadium before the Nebraska game. Within one-and-a-half hours, $22,000 was collected to support victims of sexual abuse. It’s a small step, but each and every one counts.

We’ve already had a busy, eventful fall with quite a few events under our belts:

• Our annual fall tailgate during the weekend of the Iowa game was well received with beautiful sunshine and a spirited group of attendees.

• A panel of alumni spoke to the IST Advisory Board about their experiences post-IST via the Google Hang-out feature, covering everything from benefits of the curriculum to additional skills that should be highlighted.
• New this year, in conjunction with the Schreyer Honors College, the College of IST, InnoBlue, the IA Club, and the SRA Club, the Alumni Society supported Sincerely in their 24-hour hackathon.
• We were also able to support TEDxPSU, an event that earned the Society a 2011 New/Innovative Event or Program Award, presented by the Penn State Alumni Association. It was another successful event; thank you to the students, alumni, and community members for all of your efforts!

You can read more about these events and others in this issue of the iConnect, as well as our website—www.istalum.com. The spring holds some fun new events, so keep an eye out for more details.

To quote Forrest Gump, “My Mama always said you’ve got to put the past behind you before you can move on.” I’m proud to be a fellow Penn State alum and I always will be. Onward State!

Prerana Dalal
Prerana.Dalal@psualum.com